If you were looking for one of those "little bit of everything" type of games, this was it.
The Dodgers started off the last inning turning a triple play, then watched Dee Gordon hit a walk-off single to down the Padres, 5-4. The win gives the Dodgers a perfect 6-0 homestand, and once again increases the best record in the majors at 9-1. Pretty good stuff.
The day started off well enough, as the Dodgers got an early 4-1 lead, and they had their ace on the mound in Clayton Kershaw. But, to the credit of the losing team, they hung in there and made a ballgame of it.
Once again, the damage was done early by the offense. Gordon reached on a slug bunt to short leading off, something we should get used to seeing. Something we've been used to seeing is watching him steal second, as he did here for his sixth of the season. Mark Ellis worked a walk, and Matt Kemp reached on an infield single to load the bases.
Andre Ethier ripped one to first, but Jesus Guzman made a nice play to get a forceout at second, as the run scored. Juan Rivera hit a sac-fly RBI, and it was now 2-0.
The Padres got one back in the third, as Gordon's error with one down allowed Cameron "Tiki" Maybin to reach. Chris Denorfia's RBI double made it 2-1.
Right away, the game's best player responded, as Kemp cracked a solo homer leading off the bottom of the third to make it 3-1. Ethier followed with a double, and Rivera got another RBI on a single for a 4-1 lead, putting the Dodgers in full control.
For whatever reason, Kershaw never really was able to be his usual, overpowering self. The unraveling started in the sixth, as three walks to Guzman, Nick Hundley, and Andy Parrino jammed the bases full with one out. Orlando Hudson hadn't done squat thus far at the plate, but his RBI single made it 4-2.
Josh Lindblom was called upon for the frustrated Kershaw, and it didn't get a whole lot better. Jeremy Hermida pinch-hit and had a great at-bat, working 10 pitches which resulted in a two-run single to tie the game at 4.
The Dodgers had a chance to take control again in the seventh, as the bases were loaded on walks to James Loney and Adam Kennedy, and a single by Juan Uribe. Gordon struck out swinging, and looked pretty lost in the process.
So here's where things got a little crazy. Javy Guerra came on in the ninth, but was immediately in a jam on a single by Yonder Alonso and walk to Chase Headley. Next up was Guzman, who wanted to bunt, but instead found himself trying to bail out of the way from a pitch aimed at his head.
The only thing was that Guzman still made contact, and the ball rolled just in front of the plate. A.J. Ellis didn't skip a beat as he fired to Uribe at third, who threw to Gordon at second, who completed the triple play by tossing to first. It sure looked like home plate umpire Dale Scott initially singled "foul," but he actually was just getting out of the way before saying it was fair.
It was the right call, but still a break for the Dodgers. They took advantage of it, as Rivera walked and Loney singled off of Brandon Bach. Uribe laid down the sacrifice bunt to advance the runners before Ellis was walked intentionally to load the bases.
Jerry Hairston pinch-hit, but popped up for two down. At this point, Gordon had a hit and a couple steals, but had a rough day in the field by misplaying a few he should've easily made. Well, to steal a little kid's phrase, he turned that frown upside down by delivering the walk-off single into right.
This indeed was another example of why the Dodgers have started off red hot. They've been able to come through late and in close games. They could've closed up shop after blowing the early lead, but they got the job done.
Kershaw just had one of those days, as he finished with 5 1/3 innings pitched for eight hits, four runs (three earned), three walks, and three strikeouts. He again received a no-decision, so he's yet to get on the board in any way through three games. The strikeouts were obviously low for him, but the Padres just didn't seem fooled by much of anything. But ya, he'll be fine, so no worries.
There was a lot of good about this homestand, and here's why: a 6-0 record, four wins by a run, and a combined score of 29-17 against the Pirates and Padres. Yes, it was the Pirates and Padres, and the competition will only get tougher, but running off 9 of the first 10 is awesome no matter who they played.
Monday will be an off day, then the first real test of the season will come with three games in Milwaukee starting Tuesday. Kershaw will have to wait until the Houston series to go, so let's see how the Dodgers do on the road without their ace. Chad Billingsley is pitching like an ace, and he'll go first against the solid Yovani Gallardo.
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